286 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



The three celebrated runs from Debdale, so frequently 

 mentioned, can never be forgotten. It was ascertained 

 that this was the same fox that led us on the previous 7th of 

 December to Crick, and on the 14th to Ashby Sallow-beds ; 

 and on this memorable day broke cover from the same spot, 

 took the same line of country, even through many of the 

 same meuses in the hedge-rows. 



Sir Theophilus Biddulph's keeper well knew the fox, 

 as did Bill Boxall, and Tom Day, who viewed him several 

 times. Sir Theophilus Biddulph came trotting up about 

 10 minutes after the fox was killed, and was presented by 

 Mr. Thornhill with the brush. The head is preserved in 

 a glass case by the Master. — a Warwickshire sportsman. 



BY WHOO-WHOOP. 



MITFORD BRIDGE. JAN. 14tH. 



Drew Wolford Wood, where we found a fox that took 

 away to Moreton-in-Marsh, and then turned back again to 

 the wood. After threading the cover, he made away for 

 Addlestrop, near which place he went to ground. We got 

 him out, and the hounds soon ran into him. 1 



1 Some Sportsmen, said an old foxhunter one day to us, are too 

 anxious to dig out the fox when he takes to g^^round. Tlie foxes had 

 formed an eartli in a favourite spot upon my farm ; and when a hunted 

 fox had tal<en refuge there, several young men in the field were veiy 

 clamorous to have him dug out, observing, that when any fox was so 

 cowardly as to take to earth to escape the hounds, he deserved no 

 quarter, he ought to be unearthed, and started again. I told them 

 the earth had been but newly made, and the fox, with an instinct 

 common in all animals, took ground from the first and strongest of all 

 principles, self-preservation. I had not in any way interrupted them, 

 that they might find shelter there occasionally when hard pressed ; 

 if you partly destroy the earth by digging him out, they will never 

 earth there again. I could not prevail, without positively forbidding 

 them to break the ground, and reynard was got out and killed. The 

 result was as I had predicted, the foxes entirely left the place, and 

 have not since returned. 



